Does anybody have social anxiety?

Yes, I used to go to inpatient treatment centers on a fairly regular basis...and the first day...when I would get there....I would have the worst panic attacks....I would be with people struggling with the same issues as myself...BUT just being with others...a large group of people...of both sexes....whom I don't know.....is terrifying for me....I imagine friendships will be formed amongst THEM...but noone will be my friend..and I will be alone....It is so hard for me to "mix" with people in a group.....And I tend to want to run....The competition thing for connection with the "desirable" people...yuck...making small talk? Double yuck...Talk about awkardness....which is why I do so much better in very small groups...or one on one....:)

Use to think that I had social anxiety but I have concluded recently that it was from my ADHD. When I was young I used to blurt out anything that went through my head and then end up feeling stupid. When I got older, I think that I learned to regulate it by never saying anything. I also have problems concentrating on the conversation, my mind is every where but in it. It is exhusting to try to carry on a conversation. so I dreaded going to parties and places I didn't know people. If I did get in that situation, I would go into the internal hyper-focus mode, making things much worst. But lately, after reaching this conclusion, I have been much better. Maybe the ritalin is helping a little too. I just don't care anymore. If a person likes me fine, if not, fine too. I try to focus outward and let my words flow unhindered. I found that its a much better way to live.

Social anxiety can Cause ADD, and ADD can cause Social anxiety. This is one of those "which came first...?" questions. Actually, just about every mental disorder causes symptoms of ADD. Anxiety disorders show symptoms of ADD (Stress shuts down the Cortex). Depression can cause ADD symptoms (apathy and amotivation shut down the reward pathways). Schitzophrenia which causes dysfunction of the Cortex, via TOO MUCH Dopamine (over-stimulation of D1 dopamine receptors produces classic ADD symptoms).

For myself, at least for the time being, ADD causes my social phobia. A dysfunction in the Cortex reduces ability to shift attention, causes a decreased ability to integrate large amounts of stimulation-such as what occurs in a social situation, produces a deficit in self-awareness and therefore "social intelligence," and can also be linked to a low threshold for stress.

If you think about it, the social anxiety begins NOT when we perceive that others are evaluating us unfavorably, but when we "LOCK INTO" the perception that others are evaluating us unfavorably. The abilty to shift attention or to seek options is a Cerebral Cortex function. The combination of a low threshold for stress, the over-whelming sensory stimulation of social a situation, and locking onto perceived negative evaluations from other produces a cascading loop of mental disorientation that is driven by increasing amounts stress and anxiety.

The previous mechanism can be dramatic, such as the panic you feel when you have to stand and give a speech, or it can be almost entirely sub-conscious, such as trying to carry on a conversation and finding yourself drifting off into space not listening to a word the person is saying.

Yes I do! And I'm so glad to find others who can relate. I've been socially anxious as far back as I can remember. I remember my first time going to a doc about it. I burst out crying because it was such a relief to get it out of my system! I felt like a fool but sometimes you have to go through that to get to the good.

I've dropped out of university because of it. Have tried going back and stressed out too much over presentations, etc. Friendships have suffered to the point where I've driven everyone out of my life. I don't care to answer the phone, speak in front of others, especially in office settings. This disorder is THE worst! And impairs every aspect of one's life. I'm glad I found this forum! Finally, a place where people will understand and not judge. Ahhh....

I definitely have social anxiety, it is what I figure to be my "primordial” part of the brain where the "flight of fight" kicks in and I immediately feel adrenaline kick in, which causes tremors or stuttered speech because I am consciously trying to find a way out. I it has its benefits, I always find the easy way to change a conversation or if there is an emergency I know where the closest exit is. I have never been able to figure out why I have the anxiety, Add meds help but they don't fix it. I figure if it was a bad trait it would have died out a long time ago, along with ADD. I always try to look at it as a blessing. Sometimes it's tough but sometimes I feel I only notice things due to my ability to look at things of unimportance, but i would not have changed any thing i have experienced so far.

Does anyone else notice our affinity for psychology and unusally large lexicon?

Hi,
My name is Ryan and I am 22 years old. I am new to this forum too. I never knew I had Social Anxiety Disorder until recently, although I havent seen a doctor about it. I've always been terrified of social situations. Just the thought of it makes my heart beat 4 times faster. It has really ruined my young life. I dropped out of High School because of SAD, seem to quit everything I do that involves social interraction. I always thought that it was just shyness and I should be able to get over it. But after time and time again of embarassment (especially in High School presentations in front of the class) I knew I might not ever get over it. I had heard of ADD and saw the symptoms and thought that might be what I had. But I don't really have that much trouble focusing or consentrating, especially if its something I'm interested in. It's just fear of social settings or talking in front of large groups, etc. When I read your post Armstrong I felt like you were me, exactly! I just found this forum today as well. I am also very relieved to find that there are many people living with the same disorder. I feel very alone all the time and very different from everyone else. Have only kept one friend since I was 10 years old. I havent told anyone I have SAD, I'm even embarassed to do that. I guess I must first find a doctor to verify that I actually do actually have it. Does anyone have any good tips, other than medication, on how to deal with SAD. Or, if you are taking medication which have you found effective. Although I hear there are many side-affects when taking ADD medication. thanks everybody

Ryan

celica, this is my opinion but i think you should get meds
i'm asking my doc for nardil, a old maoi inhibitor, but its the best medication out there for SA

Ok, thanks Wesley

My social anxiety is far less severe now than it was throughout my childhood and early 20s. As a child, I was selectively mute. As a teenager, I spoke only when asked a question. I kept my circle of friends exclusive to 3 people, and those were the only people I talked to. Oral presentations caused me major panic attacks. I would shake, shiver, and have the look of pure fear in my eyes. In college, I was a loner. I was afraid to pick up the phone. Making a doctor's appointment took days of anxiety to get over before I could work up the courage or felt miserably sick enough to call. I wanted to be teacher when I first entered college, but when I found out that I'd have to present psuedo-lessons in front of the class in my introductory teaching course on the first day of class, I dropped the course and changed my major to psychology the next day. Fifteen years later, I now teach children in small groups.

I'm much, much better now. I forced myself to work in retail and food service so that I would HAVE talk to people. The only thing is that when I talk to people, it's very fake and extremely effortful. At parties, I usually exhaust myself after about 5 to 10 minutes, after which I hide in a corner to regenerate.

I still feel awkward in certain social situations, but I'm usually able to talk myself through them and have less frequent panic attacks. The last one was 3 years ago when I had to lead a class discussion in grad school. I still prefer solitude to the company of others, and I despise crowds. I'm also not as paranoid as I used to be, but I still have to tell myself that the stranger talking nearby is most likely not talking trash about me. I still have trouble when I enter a room full of co-workers. I still imagine that they are looking at me and criticizing me, judging me.

My pet peeve: people whispering. It drives me crazy! I think that they're whispering about me.

Ok, so now do you think I'm crazy? :o

...i'm asking my doc for nardil, a old maoi inhibitor...
A word of caution re: maoi medictions:

You MUST follow a strict diet (which the doctor should go over with you) because some foods and beverages will react with the medication that could result in death. So be sure to follow the diet advice to a T and ask the doctor about any food related questions you may have. Also some meds cannot be taken with an maoi (like decongestion medications (even otcs)). So make sure to speak with the doctor before adding ANY medication not just prescriptions...
Good luck...

Andy...

I believe I have social anxiety, but not social anxiety disorder. It's not to the point to where I cant stand it, or its necissarily in the way of my life, but my social life does seem to suffer greatly from it (I relate it to how adderall seem to make me obsessive-compulsive about things, but not OCD). I can talk all day to a few people, especially when on an interesting subject. When I go to parties larger than like 10 or 15 people, I just stand there like a stone, zoned out and unable to hear anything other than a million voices of the people around me in my head. i try to think to talk to somebody, but I can't, but then, I would go out with a few people to have a smoke and chit-chat non stop until we went back inside. The only current cure for this seems to be alcohol, but I'm really not into drinking so much, and don't need to be drinking every damned time I enter a social situation.

Does anyone have an opinion on if my doctor would even concider this a form of social anxiety? I really do hate the way it effects my social life.